Floor and ceiling construction



May 8,

PL E.VVHYTE FLOOR AND CE ILING CONSTRUCTION Fil arch 11. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z2 Z6 &9 7

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H. E. WHITE FLOOR AND CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed March 11. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 4 E yagainst fire.

Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES "PATENT orr cs.

HERBERT E. 'WHTTE, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO TRUSOON STEEL OOH IPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 MICHIGAN.

FLOOR AND CEILING CONSTRUCTION;

Application filed March 11, 1927. Serial No. 174,589.

Building construction utilizing steel joists or steel lumber has been quite common for a number of years. nection it has been the practice to use a suspended ceiling or concrete floor to make the building reasonably fireproof.

The resent invention contem lates a less expensive construction which uses a'wood floor and a metallic ceiling. both supported from metal joist. Ordinarily the underside, or ceiling, is always the weak spot from a fireproof standpoint, and therefore it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a construction which includes a wood floor and. yet overcomes the weakness in the ceiling construction b utilizing a novel sheet steel armor whici takes the place of a wood lath and plaster ceiling such as is; ordinarily used in connection with a wood floor construction.

Accordingly, to that end the present in vention contemplates novel combination and arrangement of parts which includes a metallic joist adapted to carryand sustain the wood floor and at the same time directly support a sheet steel ceiling at the bottom of the joists thereby to provide an insulating air space between the ceiling and the floor. In that connection it is also proposed to provide a ceiling construction which has no exposed fastenings at the joints between the sections of the ceiling, thereby effectively safeguarding against the failure of such fastenings and increasing the margin'of safety A further object of theim'ention is to provide a novel paneled ceiling which not only provides a practical, reliable and easily installed construction but also affords ornamental features which contribute to the effectiveness of the room or building where the construction is used.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and I claimed.

A preferred and practical. embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

However, in that con- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on' v Similar reference characters designate stituted by the out-turned nger flanges 3-3 having the upstanding 1 'ng ribs 4 at the edges thereof.

These joist members A are arran ed in spaced relation and are adapted to directly engage with and support the metallic sections or plates 5 which form the ceiling C. That is to say, the plates 5 having the downturned edge portions 6 are adapted to rest on the hanger flanges 3 and engage behind the locking ribs 4 in such a way that by merely placing the sheets in position on the hanger flanges the ceiling is formed, providing a paneled effect in cooperation with the exposed bottom faces of the lower chords of the joist.

For the purpose of insuring the permanent positioning of the plates 5 constituting the ceiling and avoid lifting thereof as all the corners of the section. This type of clip will prevent the sections from being accidentally pushed upward and thereby disengaged from the locking ribs 4. These clips may be placed at intervals throughout the structure and in such a manner that they will efiectively prevent lifting of the ceiling. Various forms of floor construction B ma be used in combination withthe type of 'cei thereof are shown in Figs. 1 and ing construction described, and examples In the former figure a metallic sheatlnng 10 may be placed on the nailing strips 2 and secured thereto by the fastenings 11, and on the sheathing 10 which is preferably of the type having interlocking edge plates as described in my copending application Serial No. 174,588 filed March 11, 1927 suitable ground strips 12 may be laid, these strips in turn being fastened to the nailing grounds 2 by means of the fastenings 13. A common wood flooring 14 is then placcd'on and se-' cured to the strips 12 thereby providing an additional air space D beneath the flooring B. In Fig. 3 the flooring B is secured directly to the nailing strips 2 by means of the fastenings 15.

In all forms of construction, however, it- Will be apparent that the joists A directly support the metallic ceiling C without intervening Wood parts being exposed at the underside of the construction. In other words, no Wood whatever is exposed at the underside of the construction, thereby affording maximum resistance to fire and thereby materially increasing the safety, strength and security of the building.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantagesof the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A floor and ceiling construction for buildings, including a non-fireproof floor, metallic joist members supporting said floor on their upper chords, a fireproof sheet ceiling engaging over the bottom chords of the metallic joist members, and keeper clips engaging beneath the upper chords of said metallic joist and also engaging over the top of the fireproof sheet ceiling which rests on the bottom chords of said joists.

2. A floor and ceiling construction for buildings including a non-fireproof floor, metallic joist members supporting the said floor on their upper chords, a fireproof sheet ceiling, and laterally projecting members at the bottom of the joist members for supporting the fireproof ceiling, said flanges being exposed beneath the ceiling and cooperating therewith to provide a paneled effect.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature.

HERBERT E. VVHIT'E 

